Using a mix of modern technology and people power, the club enabled 600 Portuguese, Spanish and British judoka aged 8-12 to experience an event that took them from weigh-in to warm-up and then shiai to medal ceremonies in just over 5 hours. Every child had well-matched contests on one of the 14 tatami, refereed by a mix of seasoned and developing referees who worked tirelessly to ensure every child had a great day.
Supported by the local council, the event, on 14th March, was followed immediately by a training session with Oleinic for the international visitors, an extra touch of positive planning to enrich the whole excursion for those youngsters who travelled so far to be part of the occasion.
Additional moments of inspiration were delivered by Portuguese Judo Federation President Mr Joaquim Pina who presented medals for many of the categories.
Lisbon’s very own Patricia Sampaio, an Olympic and world medallist, also arrived to sign autographs, take photos and offer precious words of advice and encouragement. For Sampaio, it was an easy “yes” to the invitation to support the event, “It’s always special to be with the kids. They recognise me and ask for pictures and l love to be available to them."
"Parents say it’s a very important moment, especially for their little girls. I want to leave a mark on this sport and show the girls that they can have results and do well and be strong. When I was coming through, I looked up to Nuno Delgado, Telma Monteiro and others; I was looking up to people with values as well as performance.
It’s really nice to speak with all the children. They ask good questions about nerves and how to feel in different situations. I enjoy giving them these special moments. I love this interaction with the kids.”
Sampaio stayed to present medals and be in the venue with the young judoka, appreciated by everyone present.
This was a fantastic example of a superbly well organised event that combined training and competition with inspiration and confidence-building, all essential ingredients for the positive development of judo's future stars.